Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 27

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

आतुरे सति दातव्यं निर्धनैरपि मानवैः / गावस्तिला हिरण्यञ्च सप्तधान्यं विशेषतः

Transliteration

āture sati dātavyaṃ nirdhanairapi mānavaiḥ / gāvastilā hiraṇyañca saptadhānyaṃ viśeṣataḥ

Translation

جب آدمی آتُر ہو (بیماری یا آخری وقت میں) تو نادار لوگ بھی دان دیں؛ خصوصاً گائے، تل، سونا اور سات قسم کے اناج کا دان کریں۔

Word by Word

• āture: when (one is) afflicted/ill
• āture: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; used in locative absolute with sati

• sati: being/when it is
• sati: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धा॒तु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; from √as; forming locative absolute (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध) with āture

• dātavyam: should be given
• dātavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धा॒tu)
• Form: Gerundive/Obligatory participle (तव्यत्), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; impersonal obligation

• nirdhanaiḥ: by the poor
• nirdhanaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirdhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; used substantively qualifying mānavaiḥ

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि=even)

• mānavaiḥ: by people/men
• mānavaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• gāvaḥ: cows
• gāvaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• tilāḥ: sesame seeds
• tilāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• hiraṇyam: gold
• hiraṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hiraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• sapta-dhānyam: seven grains (seven kinds of grain)
• sapta-dhānyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + dhānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; द्विगु-समास (seven kinds of grain)

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At the time of affliction/illness, especially near death (ātura-kāla).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna is obligatory even for the poor when a person is afflicted; certain gifts (cow, tila, gold, seven grains) are especially efficacious.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifying discipline (citta-śuddhi) and as supportive karma; intention and occasion elevate even modest means into great merit.

Application: Prepare a ‘crisis-dāna’ plan: keep some sesame/grain set aside; contribute according to capacity; prioritize essentials that sustain life (food) and ritual staples (tila) when supporting end-of-life rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/sickbed context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis on tila-dāna, anna-dāna, and go-dāna in preta/śrāddha contexts; Garuda Purana: lists of dāna items that aid the departed and please dharma-devatās

Characters & Entities

• Humans

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) during illness or near death in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that giving at the time of affliction is especially meritorious and should be done even by those with little, emphasizing dharma and supportive rites at a critical life-transition.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals?

It highlights a practical ritual principle of the Preta Kanda: timely gifts—cows, sesame, gold, and grains—are recommended offerings associated with merit-making and auspicious support around the dying process.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Offer what you can—food grains, essential supplies, or financial help—to the sick and vulnerable; the spirit of the verse is compassionate giving, not display of wealth.